Assembling machine



July v6, 1937- H. R. TEAR 2,086,371

vASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2l, l1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 6, 1937. H. R. TEAR ,2,086,371

ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug.' 21,A 1935. 5 sheets-sheet s W 24 8 y I [/ggj'g 557. 3 i \\\\\\\\\'\\\\\\\\\\Q\\\ INVENTYoR arrgR. Tear.

5 sheets-snaai 4 INVENToR 'da 922.). Tear BY LIL-L2 ATTORNEY H. R. TEAR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug.. 21. 1935 July 6, 1937. H. R. TEAR 2,086,371

AssEMBLING MAC'INE Filed Aug. 21, 1935 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 -l i INVNTOR F 2 E. JU. Jfczrr Jler ATTORNEY Patented July s, 1937 'matan ASSEMBLING MACHINE Harry R. Tear, Evanston, I li., assignor to The Lubrication Corporation, Chicago, Ill., poration of Delaware` a col'- Application August 21, 1935, Serial No. 37,260

18 Claims.

This invention relates to assembling machines and more particularly to machines for assemblingelastic or other packing on pistons or followers. The invention has a peculiar value in connection with the manufacture of containers or cartridges utilized for the direct; dispensation of plastic or semi-plastic substances such as lubricants.

Cartridges for lubricants such as those illustrated and described and claimed in the McConkey Patent No. 1,955,339 dated April 17, 1934, employ pistons-or followers which serve both as a closure for one end of the cartridge and as a piston against which thrust may be applied to eject the contents of the cartridge or `as a follower to prevent air from piercing or-cavitating the 'lubricant as thelubricant is aspirated or sucked from the opposite end of the cartridge. In either c'ase the piston or follower must make a tight seal with the walls of the container or cartridge entirely aboutthe circumference of the piston orf-follower and throughout the length of the internal wall of the container or cartridge. One very desirable arrangement includes, a circumferentially grooved pist'on or follower (hereafter referred to simply as a piston) with a rubber band disposed in the groove. many materials other than rubber may be employed and the machine to be described herein is capable of handling packing rings o'r bands of such other material, although rubber bands may be handled with exceptional facility.

The assembly of a rubber band or other packing on a piston of the type mentioned has been found to be a difficult job as ajhand operationand extremely tedious Vand time consuming. Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the presvent invention is to provide lan assembling machine which will assemble the packings and pistons with the packings properly in place, with va minimum of time and with aminimum expenditure of effort.

Many other' objects, the advantages and the various novel features of the invention will be or should become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings in which:

' Fig. 1 is a. vertical section through one preferred form of machine embodying the invention and showing the parts in. an initial or starting position.

. g. 2 is a-partial vertical `section of the mac e of Fig. 1 showingthe parts in a position where the packing andgpiston are about to be assembled.

Of course,

(Cl. zii-88.2)

Fig. 3 is a. partial vertical section of the machine of Fig.l 1 showing the parts in the position they assume immediately after assembling the packing and piston. y

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the machine of 1` with partsbrokenaway and parts in section.

Fig. 5 is a. section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. `6 is a sectiontaken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of thearrows. Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section similar. to that of Fig. 7 showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 7 with parts broken away.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view' of still another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 10.-

Fig. 12 is an elevation (partly in section) of one form of piston-adapted to have packing placed upon it by anyone of the forms of the invention illustrated. y

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a band or ring packing 'to be-assembled upon `the piston of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a. view of the piston of Fig. 12 .(partly in section) showing the packing assembled'thereon. A

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive embodies a support upon Vwhich the piston and packing are assembled. 'This support has a plurality of more or less radially extending slots through which fingers projectv and may be moved radially inward or outward toward and from one another. The packing bandY or ring is placed over the ngers which may V -then be spread to expand'orv spread the packing band or ring to a diameter suflicient for the piston to be placed therein. After the band has been spread or expanded and the piston has been placed within it, the lingers are moved radially Y inward toward'the piston and are then withdrawn by suitable mechanism, leaving the packing in its proper piace upon the piston.'

Referring to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to` 6 inclusive, a base plate or the like 2 supports a cylindrical housing member 3 which in turn Supports a top plate 4 in the form of an annulus.

- These parts may be rigidly secured togetherin any suitable manner.. v'Centrally yof the base 2 i andsecured thereto in any suitable way is a boss 5 boredl out as shown atj to provide a bearing well in which a vertical shaft 'I secured to an operating disc 8 is'mounted for rotationA and for vertical movements. An oil passage 9 may be provided in the shaft I for the purpose of oiling the bearing surfaces.

The top plate 4 is provided with four substantially equally spaced holes, in each of which a bushing. I I- is disposed for the reception of pins I2. Adjacent to their upper ends the pins i2 may be provided with integral collars or enlarged portions I3 which serve to limit downward movement of the pins and which also serve as an abutment for what may be called a stripper plate I4 to which the pins I2 are rigidly secured in any desirable manner. The stripper plate I4 is arranged to be moved upward by the pins I2 through the operation of mechanism to be described. 'Ihe top of the stripper plate I4 is re.- cessed out to provide a depression I5 and is also slotted to provide any suitable number of slots I0 (eight shown) all of which extend in a generally radial direction, althoughA of slightly arcuate shape.

The'operating disc 8 carries a series of pins I6 (there are eight pins I6 in thev embodiment illustrated although only two are shown) which are secured to the d isc at their lower ends and project vertically upward within the annulus 4 and at their upper ends engage in slots I1 in a series of levers 'I8 which are pivotally mounted as shown at I9 upon pivot pins 2l secured to the annulus 4. The levers I8 are arranged to swing between the full line and dotted positions illustrated in Fig. 4 (corresponding to the full line positions of Figs. 1 and 2). Secured to the inner Vends of the levers I8 are pins 22 whichare adapted to project through the slots I0 and to ride from end to end of these slots as the levers I8 move between the positions illustrated.

The operating disc 8 is provided with a depending flange` 23 'which on diametrically opposite sides is cut away for the passage of a lever arm 24 which is journalled upon the shank I and rides in suitable slots 25 .and 26 cut through the cylindrical housing member 3. 'I'he diametrically opposite cut away portions of the iiange 23 are so cut away as to provide a perpendicular shoulder 2'I and a slanting shoulder A28 on the other side of each cut away portion, the straight and slanting shoulders lying inthe same sense that is, the straight and slanting shoulders alternating with one another about the periphery of the ange 23. The straight shoulders are adapted to be engaged by the lever to form an abutment therefor so that the lever will rotate the operating disc 8 when it is moved in one direction, whereas the slanting shoulders 28 cause the operating disc to ride up on the lever when the lever is moved in the opposite direction. Secured to and projecting downwardly from the ange 23 on the operating disc is a pin or latch member 29 which, when the operating disc is moved in one direction, rides against, depresses and engages behind another latch member or pawl"3I which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 32 in a recess 33 formed in the wall of the housing member 3. A leaf spring 34 secured at one `end as by rivets 35 to the housing member 3 serves' Fig. 14 is placed over the pins 22 which at this stage are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. A counterclockwisemovement of the lever 24 (viewing Fig. 4) swings the operating disc 3 in the same direction, thereby moving the pins I6 in the same direction. Each pin I6 will move from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in the upper right hand cut away portion of Fig. 4 and in so doing rides in its slot I'I in its respective lever I8 thereby swinging the pins 22 to the outer ends of the slots I0. This movement of the pins 22 will stretch or spread the packing ring 3'I to a diameter suiiiciently great to permit. insertion of a piston 38 between the fingers 22 and into therecess I5. During this operation the lever 24 is moved from its full line to its dotted line position of Fig. 4 and the latch pin 29 likewise moves from its full line to its dotted line position (viewing Fig. 4) at which point the latch pin engages behind the pawl 3| and locks in position. After the piston 38 is in position as illustrated in Fig. 2, the lever 24 is moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) to its other extreme position. Owing to the engagement of the latch pin 29 behind'the pawl 3|, a spring 39 secured between an abutment 4I on thelange 23 and an abutment 42 secured to the frame member 3, cannot return the operating disc 8 to its initial position until the pin 29 has been. released from behind the pawl.

As the lever 24 is rotated clockwise, it engages the slanting shoulders 28 which have a.cam action and cause the operating disc 8 to rise vertically with its shaft I. The upward movement of the Ydisc 8 forces the pins I2 to rise, carrying the stripper plate I4 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and, since the piston 38 and the packing band or ring 31 are carried by the stripper plate, they move upwardly relative tothe pins 22 until the plate assumes approximately the position shown in Fig. 3 at which time the pins 22 are vcompletely withdrawn from the packing band, ,and the latter is dropped in place in the groove in the piston provided to receive it. Just as soon as the operating disc 8 is raised suiliciently y for the latch pin 29 to clear the top` of the pawl 3 I, the spring 39 returns the disc, the pins I6 and the levers I8 together with their pins 22 to the initial or starting position.

Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive illustrate another embodiment o-f the invention. A frame generallyindicated at 43 has a top plate 44 to-which a stripper plate 44 is secured and the stripper plate 44,is slotted with a plurality'of radially extending slots 45. A lever 46 comprising a pair of arms and pivoted at 4,'I on the frame 43, carries a block 48 in which there are a plurality of studs 49 to each of which a finger 5I is secured on a pivot 52 for swinging movements. Springs 58 secured in the block'48 normally urge the fingers 5I 'toward their position of Fig. 7.

A cam member 53 of mushroom shape is arranged to engage 'and spread the fingers 5I and for this purpose it`is provided with a stem 54 mounted for verticalsliding movements in the block 48, the stem having its lower end arranged for engagement with aportion of the plate 6I. When the cam 53 is moved upward relative to the block 48, it engages with and spreads the fingers 5I fromtheir clustered full line position in Fig. 7 to their spread dotted` line position in Fig. 8, the fingers and the block, meanwhile, having been raised together to their upper position as shown in Fig. 8. The stripper plate 44f car- A yoke-like lever comprising a pair of' arms 5 joined at one end by//a pin 58, pivoted on a fulcrum pin 59 ,and joined together at their other ends byfa'plate 6|, is arranged to raise and to spread the fingers Mounted between and secured` to the armsl of lever 46 is a bracket- 62 `which provides an abutment for the lower end of a, relatively weak spring 63, the upper end of which is lodged in a recess 64 in the plate 44', a rivet or the like 65 serving to center the lower end of the spring on the bracket '62. This bracket also serves as an abutment for the head ci a bolt 66 which is oatingly mounted throughan aperture in the plate 6| and surrounded by a relatively strong spring 61 which finds abutment at one end against the plate 6| and at its other end against a washer 68 lodged against the bolt head. In normal position the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 7 in full lines with the head of the bolt 66 spaced below the bracket 62 so that the bolt may move upward a predetermined dis- `tanceprior to its engagement with the bracket and prior to compression of the spring 61. An adjustment screw 69 may be disposed through the bracket 48 for purposes to be described.

The operation of the-machine of Figs. 7 to 9 is somewhat similar to the operation of the machine flrst described. A rubber band or other packing ring or the like being placed around the fixed posts and the lever 51 being connected through a link 1| with a foottread1e or with any mechanism that may be operated in timed relationship to the placement of the band 31, the piston 38 and the removal of the assembled article, the machine may then be .started into operation. Downward movement of the link 1| moves the lever 51 about its fulcrum 58 causing the plate 6| to bemoved upwardly toward the sternv 54 of the cam 53. During the rst part of this movement the bolt 66 closes the gap between its head and the bracket 62 and the plate 6| comes in contact with the stem 54. From this point on the spring 63 is compressed as the lever 46 moves upwardly carrying the fingers 5| up through the slots 45 to positions within the band or packing and between the pins 55 as illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the compression of the spring 63l reaches a predetermined point, the spring 61 begins to compress and the stem 54 and cam head 53 are moved upward relative to the block 48.

return to their normal positions under the infinence of gravity and the springs 63 and 61. The dropping of lever 51 withdraws the cam head 53,from between thengers so that the ngers move in against the sides of the piston and the dropping of the block 48 with the lever 56 with.

draws the-fingers from between the band and the pistonv and allows the band to settle into its groove on the piston. The ngers 5| instantaneously assume the position shownl in dotted lines in Fig. '7 before being returned to their full line position of Fig. '1 under the iniluence'of vsprings 50. y

The embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 includes a base 12 upon which a yoke-shaped 'standard 13 is xedly mounted to serve as a fulcrum for a yoke-shaped 'lever 14, the arms oi which are pivotally mounted upon a pin 15 passingthrough the top ends of the yoke -arms 13. The lever 14 is shown in its normal inoperative position in full lines and in its upper and lower extreme positions in dotted lines in Fig. 10. Also mounted upon the base 12 is a hollow post v16 carrying a plurality of spring ngers 11 arranged in circular array about the base of the post with their bottom ends rigidly secured thereto while thetop ends are free as shown.

Each of the spring fingers 11 is bowedl at 19 to fit the outer contour of a circular cam boss 8| integral with a sleeve 82 slidably mounted on the post 16. Each of the spring fingersl 11 is given enough initial tension to hold it fairly tightly against the cam 8| and each has a pin or dowel 83l secured to it. The dowels 83 'are slidably mounted in holes drilled in the post 16 and serve slotted disc 85 is flxedly secured and the bottom l end of which is anchored through a spring 86 and a hair pin spline to a pin 88 which extends transversely through the post 16. The spring and spline permit limited vertical movements of the slotted disc 85 and the spring returns the parts to their positionshown in full lines. The upper ends of the spring ngers 11 are adapted to ride-in the slots 89-in the disc 85 and to stretch l or spread a rubber or other packing ring that may'be placed thereabout while a groove 98 formed in the top of the disc 85 is adapted to receive the bottom edge of the piston 38. The yoke arms of the lever 14 are connected to the cam 8| through trunnions 9|.

In operating the'machine of Figs. 10 and 11, a rubber band or other packing ring is placed about the upper edge of the spring iingers 11 and on top of the disc or stripper plate 85. The lever 14 is moved from its full line to its lower dotted line position which causes the cam 8| to spread the fingers to the position in which they are shown in dotted line whereupon the-piston 38 is deposited in the groove 98. At this time, the

.lever is moved upwardl to theupper dotted line position which causes the cam 8| to move to its ,upper dotted line position and; as the top of the cam sleeve 82 engagesthe underside 'of the stripper plate or disc 85, the stripper plate is moved upwardly relative to the spring fingers 11, there`v by stripping the packing bandor ring from the finger ends and causing the band'tobe depositedv in the groove on the piston.

Each of the machines illustrated is adapted for incorporation in principal features at least inA an automatic mechanism arranged to operate the `machinein timed relation tothe deposit of the the spirit of the invention appended claims.

I claim: r

1. An assembling machine comprising, a stripper plate, a plurality of movable fingers extending through the stripper plate, an operating lever associated with said fingers to spread them, and means operable by movement of said lever in one direction for moving the stripper plate and iingers relatively longitudinally and by movement of the lever in the other direction to spread the lingers.

2. An assembling machine comprising a frame, a stripper plate mounted on said frame, a plurality of movable fingers mounted on said frame and extending through the stripper plate, said lingers and stripper plate being movable relatively longitudinally, an operating lever, means connecting the operating lever to the fingers to spread the lingers, and means operable by movement of said lever in one direction to move the ilngers and stripper plate relatively longitudinally and by movement of the lever in the other direction to spread the fingers, one of said means including a cam member.

3. An assembling machine comprising, a frame, a stripper plate mounted for vertical movement on said frame, a plurality of fingers mounted on said frame for pivotal movement and extending through said stripper plate, and operating means connected to said ngers and said plate for spreading the lingers and moving the plate vertically, one of said connections including a or the .scope of the cam member.

plate vertimounted on said frame for pivotal movement and extending through said stripper plate, an operating disc rotatably mountedl on said frame and connected to the ngers to spread them, a lever for rotating said disc, cooperating cam surfaces on said lever and said disc, to move thedisc vertically and connections between the disc and' the stripper plate whereby the stripper plate will be moved vertically by the disc. 6. An assembling machine comprising, a frame, a stripper plate mounted on said frame moved outwardly in the slots when the disc isv rotated in one direction, latch means for holding Asaid disc in a position with said fingers moved out, a pivoted lever for rotating said disc, a connection between the lever and the disc operative to turn the disc .with the lever when the lever is turned in one direction and to move the disc axially when the lever is turned in the other direction relative to the disc, and a connection between the disc and thev stripper plate .to move the stripper plate vertically in response to axial movements of the disc, said latch means being releaseable by axial movement of the disc.

8. In an assembling machine having avertically movable stripper plate and spreadable fingers extending therethrough, operating mechanism comprising a disc mounted for rotary and axial movements, means connecting the disc to said fingers to spread the ngers when the disc is rotated, means connecting the disc `to the stripper plate to move the stripper plate axially when the disc is moved axially, means urging said disc toward one radial position in which the iingers are retracted, latch means for holding said disc in another radial positio in which the iingers are spread, and4 operating meansfor moving said disc both rotatively and axially, said latch means being'releaseable by axial movementof the disc.

9. In an assembling machine having a vertically movable stripper plate and spreadable iingers extending therethrough, operating mechanism comprising a disc mounted for rotary and axial movements, means connecting the disc to said lingers to spread the fingers when the disc is rotated, means connecting the disc to the stripper plate to move the stripper plate axially when the disc is moved axially, means urging said disc toward one radial position in which the fingers are retracted, latch means for holding said disc in another radial position in which .the lfingers are spread, a pivoted operating lever, and a connection between said operating lever and the disc .effective in one direction to turn the disc by the effective upon relative movement of the lever rel- 1 ative to the disc in the other direction to move for relative vertical movement but held against" relative rotational movement. said stripper plate having a plurality of substantially radial slots therein, a plurality of ngers pivotally mounted on said frame and extending through said slots, an operating disc mounted on said frame for rotary and axial movement, connections between said disc and said fingers whereby the fingers will be moved outwardlyrin the slots when the disc is rotated in one direction, a pivoted lever for rotating said disc, a connection between the lever and the disc operative to turn the disc with the lever when the lever is turned in one direction and to move the disc axially when the lever is turned in the other direction relative to the disc, and a connection between the disc and the stripper plate to move the stripper plate vertil frame, a stripper plate mounted for longitudii'ialv movement on said frame, a plurality of ngers arranged generally parallel to thepath of move- 'v ment of the stripper plate and extending through the stripper plate, a cam member able in one direction to operate said cam mem. ber to spread the ngers and in the other direction to move the cam into engagement with the stripper plate to move the stripper plate.

12.` An assembling machine comprising, a

-stripper plate mounted for longitudinal movement, a plurality of fingers arranged generally parallel to .the path of movement of the stripper plate and extending through the stripper plate, a cam member mounted between said fingers for longitudinal movement along a path coaxial with the path of movement of the stripper plate, and means to move said cam member in one direction to spread the fingers and in the other direction to move the stripper plate.

13. An assembling machine comprising, a stripper plate, a block mounted for movement toward and away from said stripper plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said block and adapted to extend through said plate, a cam member carried by said block for spreading the fingers, and a lever engageable with said cam member to move the block toward the stripper plate whereby the fingers will extend through the stripper plate and then to move said cam relative to the block to spread the fingers.

14. An assembling machine for assembling elastic bands on pistons. having band-receiving grooves therein comprising a plurality of fingers to receive an elastic band, means for spreading the ngers to stretch the band, a stripper plate through which the lingers extend and adapted V to support an annular piston, a circular depressionin the stripper plate to receive the edge of the piston whereby the groove in the piston lies substantially flush with `the surface of the stripper plate, and means for moving the stripper plate relative to the ngers whereby the band will be stripped from the fingers and deposited in said groove.

15. An assembling machine comprising, a frame including a vertical post, a plurality of ngers in annular array around said post, a stripper on said post and movable in one direction to l spread the ngers and in the other direction to .move the stripper plate and fingers relatively longitudinally. v V

16. An assembling' machine'comprising, a frame including a vertical post, a plurality of fingers rigidly secured to the lower end of said post in annular array, a stripper plate carried by the upper end of the post,l for axial movement relatively thereto, said stripper plate having a series of radial slots. through which-said fingers extend, a cam slidable on said post and lying between the post and the fingers, and means for sliding the cam on the post to spread the ngers and to move the stripper plate.

17. An assembling machine comprising, a stripper plate having a series of radial slots therein, a block pivotally carrying-a plurality of fingers adapted to extend through said slots re, spectively, means pivotally connecting the plate and block whereby they maybe moved relatively toward and away from each other, means for urging the plate and block relatively toward eachl other, and means operated by said last named means independently of the block for spreading said fingers.

18. An assembling machine comprising, a stripper plate having a series of radial slots therein, `a block pivotally carrying a plurality of lingers adapted to extend through said slots respectively, means pivotally connecting the plate HARRY R. 

